HOPES DASHED

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 112, 11 April 1929, Page 7

HOPES DASHED

MISSING SOUTHERN CROSS. INCORRECT REPORT OF DISCOVERY. FOUR LAND PARTIES SEARCHING (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received April 11, 8.55 a.m. SYDNEY, April 11. Yesterday’s search for the Southern Cross was again negative. It appears that the reported finding of the monoplane was unfounded. Even Pilot Woods, who brought the message, doubted the reliability of the report. Four big land parties are searching the rugged country between Drysdale and Port George. The large number of fires seen by Pilot Holden from the Canberra yesterday are stated to be due to a war between coastal and inland natives. The Goulburn Moth ’plane has arrived at Longreach. GROUND SEARCHES THE BEST. SYDNEY, April 10. With seven ’planes now engaged in the search for the Southern Cross, the official opinion is that additional machines will be of little use, and that efforts should be concentrated on ground searches. The aeroplane Canberra to-day searched westward from Wyndham to the Admiralty Gulf. The pilots investigated fires, but they saw no sign of anything but 6moke. ■

CANBERRA’S SEARCH. REPORTS BY WIRELESS.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. Mr R. L. James reported that at 11.37 o’clock last night, broadcast station 2BL, Sydney, announced that the following messages sent out by the aeroplane Canberra yesterday were intercepted by Amalgamated Wireless, Sydney:— 9.45 a.m. —Just left Wyndham. 10 a.m. —Crossing Durack River. 10.9 a.m. —Approximately 39 miles west of Wyndham. 10.25 a.m. —All well. Travelling west. 10.35 a.m.—just sighted range of .mountains. Country very rough with ridges. 10.45 a.m.—One hour out from Wyndham. 11 a.m.—More than half-way between Wyndham and Port George. 11.5 a.m. —Leaving course to investigate fires. 11.23 a.m.—Now over fire. Nothing seen. Now going north-west. 11.52 a.m.—Altering course to northeast to investigate fire. 11.55 a.m. —if Southern Cross crew made a fire, we would see it 40 miles away. 12.41. —Just changed course to north-north-west, as we have sighted another fire. 12.45 p.m. —Now been in the air three hours. Over another fire. Nothing seen. 1.15 p.m. —Now been in the air 3J hours ,approaching south-south-east to Drysdale River. Cannot see a single fire, v 1.40 p.m. —Can 6ee the Bastion on our right, and should be in Wyndham any minute. 1.44 p.m.—Four hours in the air nOiv. The last message intercepted from the Canberra was at 2.12 p.m. yesterday, stating: “Landing soon. No sign of Southern Cross.” s PEACEFUL BLACKS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 11. Among the messages broadcast from Australia concerning the search for the airmen the following items from Broome were intercepted in Wellington : Father Thomas, who left Sydney before the Southern Cross, said that in the event of the Southern Cross crew making a forced landing there was no fear of the natives interfering with the crew. “The blacks walk many miles to tne Mission hall and we never have any trouble with them, as they are peaceful.” , “It is not expected that the 200 natives and few hites sent out can travel more than from three to four miles a day. It would be almost impossible to use horses in that country.” A Sydney message stated: “The rescue fund is now £5425 17s 2d. Fifty thousand pound is the objective of the committee, as the rescue committee took the responsibility of commissioning the Canberra/*